第7章

haveseenitintheAcademy；IhaveseenitinthelastFrenchExposition，excellentlydonebyBloomer；inablack-and-whitebyMr。A。Henley，itonceadornedthisessayinthepagesoftheMAGAZINEOFART。Long-sufferingbridge!AndifyouvisitGretzto-morrow，youshallfindanothergeneration，campedatthebottomofChevillon"sgardenundertheirwhiteumbrellas，anddoggedlypaintingitagain。

Thebridgetakenforgranted，GretzisalessinspiringplacethanBarbizon。IgiveitthepalmoverCernay。ThereissomethingghastlyinthegreatemptyvillagesquareofCernay，withtheinntablesstandinginonecorner，asthoughthestageweresetforrusticopera，andintheearlymorningallthepaintersbreakingtheirfastuponwhitewineunderthewindowsofthevillagers。ItisvastlydifferenttoawakeinGretz，togodownthegreeninn-

garden，tofindtheriverstreamingthroughthebridge，andtoseethedawnbeginacrossthepoplaredlevel。Themealsarelaidinthecoolarbour，underflutteringleaves。Thesplashofoarsandbathers，thebathingcostumesouttodry，thetrimcanoesbesidethejetty，tellofasocietythathasaneyetopleasure。Thereis"somethingtodo"atGretz。Perhaps，forthatveryreason，Icanrecallnosuchenduringardours，nosuchgloriesofexhilaration，asamongthesolemngrovesanduneventfulhoursofBarbizon。This"somethingtodo"isagreatenemytojoy；itisawayoutofit；

youwreakyourhighspiritsonsomecut-and-dryemployment，andbeholdthemgone!ButGretzisamerryplaceafteritskind:

prettytosee，merrytoinhabit。Thecourseofitspellucidriver，whetherupordown，isfullofgentleattractionsforthenavigator:islandedreed-mazeswhere，inautumn，theredberriescluster；themirroredandinvertedimagesoftrees，lilies，andmills，andthefoamandthunderofweirs。Andofallnoblesweepsofroadway，noneisnobler，onawindydusk，thanthehighroadtoNemoursbetweenitslinesoftalkingpoplar。

ButevenGretzischanged。Theoldinn，longshoredandtrussedandbuttressed，fellatlengthunderthemereweightofyears，andtheplaceasitwasisbutafadingimageinthememoryofformerguests。They，indeed，recalltheancientwoodenstair；theyrecalltherainyevening，thewidehearth，theblazeofthetwigfire，andthecompanythatgatheredroundthepillarinthekitchen。Butthematerialfabricisnowdust；soon，withthelastofitsinhabitants，itsverymemoryshallfollow；andthey，intheirturn，shallsufferthesamelaw，and，bothinnameandlineament，vanishfromtheworldofmen。"Forremembranceoftheoldhouse"sake，"

asPepysoncequaintlyputit，letmetellonestory。WhenthetideofinvasionsweptoverFrance，twoforeignpainterswereleftstrandedandpennilessinGretz；andthere，untilthewarwasover，theChevillonsungrudginglyharbouredthem。Itwasdifficulttoobtainsupplies；butthetwowaifswerestillwelcometothebest，satdowndailywiththefamilytotable，andatthedueintervalsweresuppliedwithcleannapkins，whichtheyscrupledtoemploy。

MadameChevillonobservedthefactandreprimandedthem。Buttheystoodfirm；eattheymust，buthavingnomoneytheywouldsoilnonapkins。

VI

NemoursandMoret，foralltheyaresopicturesque，havebeenlittlevisitedbypainters。Theyare，indeed，toopopulous；theyhavemannersoftheirown，andmightresistthedrasticprocessofcolonisation。Montignyhasbeensomewhatstrangelyneglected，I

neverknewitinhabitedbutonce，whenWillH。LowinstalledhimselftherewithabarrelofPIQUETTE，andentertainedhisfriendsinaleafytrellisabovetheweir，insightofthegreencountryandtothemusicofthefallingwater。Itwasamostairy，quaint，andpleasantplaceofresidence，justtoorustictobestagey；andfrommymemoriesoftheplaceingeneral，andthatgardentrellisinparticular-atmorning，visitedbybirds，oratnight，whenthedewfellandthestarswereoftheparty-IaminclinedtothinkperhapstoofavourablyofthefutureofMontigny。

Chailly-en-Bierehasoutlivedallthings，andliesdustilyslumberingintheplain-thecemeteryofitself。Thegreatroadremainstotestifyofitsformerbustleofpostilionsandcarriagebells；and，likememorialtablets，therestillhangintheinnroomthepaintingsofaformergeneration，deadordecoratedlongago。

Inmytime，onemanonly，greatlydaring，dweltthere。FromtimetotimehewouldwalkovertoBarbizonlikeashaderevisitingtheglimpsesofthemoon，andaftersomecommunicationwithfleshandbloodreturntohisausterehermitage。Butevenhe，whenIlastrevisitedtheforest，hadcometoBarbizonforgood，andclosedtherollofChaillyites。Itmayrevive-butImuchdoubtit。AcheresandReclosesstillwaitapioneer；Bourronisoutofthequestion，beingmerelyGretzoveragain，withouttheriver，thebridge，orthebeauty；andofallthepossibleplacesonthewesternside，Marlottealoneremainstobediscussed。IscarcelyknowMarlotte，and，verylikelyforthatreason，amnotmuchinlovewithit。Itseemsaglaringandunsightlyhamlet。TheinnofMotherAntonieisunattractive；anditsmorereputablerival，thoughcomfortableenough，iscommonplace。Marlottehasaname；itisfamous；ifI

weretheyoungpainterIwouldleaveitaloneinitsglory。

VII

Thesearethewordsofanoldstager；andthoughtimeisagoodconservativeinforestplaces，muchmaybeuntrueto-day。ManyofushavepassedArcadiandaysthereandmovedon，butyetleftaportionofoursoulsbehindusburiedinthewoods。Iwouldnotdigforthesereliquiae；theyareincommunicabletreasuresthatwillnotenrichthefinder；andyettheremaylie，interredbelowgreatoaksorscatteredalongforestpaths，storesofyouth"sdynamiteanddearremembrances。Andasonegenerationpassesonandrenovatesthefieldoftillageforthenext，Ientertainafancythatwhentheyoungmenofto-daygoforthintotheforesttheyshallfindtheairstillvitalisedbythespiritsoftheirpredecessors，and，likethose"unheardmelodies"thatarethesweetestofall，thememoryofourlaughtershallstillhauntthefieldoftrees。Thosemerryvoicesthatinwoodscallthewandererfarther，thosethrillingsilencesandwhispersofthegroves，surelyinFontainebleautheymustbevocalofmeandmycompanions？

Wearenotcontenttopassawayentirelyfromthescenesofourdelight；wewouldleave，ifbutingratitude，apillarandalegend。

Onegenerationafteranotherfalllikehoney-beesuponthismemorableforest，rifleitssweets，packthemselveswithvitalmemories，andwhenthetheftisconsummateddepartagainintolifericher，butpooreralso。Theforest，indeed，theyhavepossessed，fromthatdayforwarditistheirsindissolubly，andtheywillreturntowalkinitatnightinthefondestoftheirdreams，anduseitforeverintheirbooksandpictures。Yetwhentheymadetheirpackets，andputuptheirnotesandsketches，something，itshouldseem，hadbeenforgotten。Aprojectionofthemselvesshallappeartohauntunfriendedthesescenesofhappiness，anaturalchildoffancy，begottenandforgottenunawares。Overthewholefieldofourwanderingssuchfetchesarestilltravellinglikeindefatigablebagmen；buttheimpsofFontainebleau，asofallbelovedspots，areverylongoflife，andmemoryispiouslyunwillingtoforgettheirorphanage。Ifanywhereaboutthatwoodyoumeetmyairybantling，greethimwithtenderness。Hewasapleasantlad，thoughnowabandoned。Andwhenitcomestoyourownturntoquittheforest，mayyouleavebehindyousuchanother；noAntonyorWerther，letushope，notearfulwhipster，but，asbecomesthisnotuncheerfulandmostactiveageinwhichwefigure，thechildofhappyhours。

Noart，itmaybesaid，waseverperfect，andnotmanynoble，thathasnotbeenmirthfullyconceived。

Andnoman，itmaybeadded，waseveranythingbutawetblanketandacrosstohiscompanionswhoboastednotacopiousspiritofenjoyment。WhetherasmanorartistlettheyouthmakehastetoFontainebleau，andoncetherelethimaddresshimselftothespiritoftheplace；hewilllearnmorefromexercisethanfromstudies，althoughbotharenecessary；andifhecangetintohisheartthegaietyandinspirationofthewoodshewillhavegonefartoundotheevilofhissketches。Aspiritoncewellstrunguptotheconcert-pitchoftheprimevalout-of-doorswillhardlydaretofinishastudyandmagniloquentlyticketitapicture。Theincommunicablethrillofthings，thatisthetuning-forkbywhichwetesttheflatnessofourart。HereitisthatNatureteachesandcondemns，andstillspursuptofurthereffortandnewfailure。

Thusitisthatshesetsusblushingatourignorantandtepidworks；andthemorewefindoftheseinspiringshocksthelessshallwebeapttolovetheliteralinourproductions。Inallsciencesandsensestheletterkills；andto-day，whencacklinghumangeeseexpresstheirignorantcondemnationofallstudiopictures，itisalessonmostusefultobelearnt。LettheyoungpaintergotoFontainebleau，andwhilehestupefieshimselfwithstudiesthatteachhimthemechanicalsideofhistrade，lethimwalkinthegreatair，andbeaservantofmirth，andnotpickandbotanise，butwaituponthemoodsofnature。Sohewilllearn-orlearnnottoforget-thepoetryoflifeandearth，which，whenhehasacquiredhistrack，willsavehimfromjoylessreproduction。

[1882。]

CHAPTERIV-EPILOGUETO"ANINLANDVOYAGE"

THEcountrywheretheyjourneyed，thatgreen，breezyvalleyoftheLoing，isoneveryattractivetocheerfulandsolitarypeople。Theweatherwassuperb；allnightitthunderedandlightened，andtherainfellinsheets；byday，theheavenswerecloudless，thesunfervent，theairvigorousandpure。Theywalkedseparate:theCigaretteploddingbehindwithsomephilosophy，theleanArethusapostingonahead。Thuseachenjoyedhisownreflectionsbytheway；eachhadperhapstimetotireofthembeforehemethiscomradeatthedesignatedinn；andthepleasuresofsocietyandsolitudecombinedtofilltheday。TheArethusacarriedinhisknapsacktheworksofCharlesofOrleans，andemployedsomeofthehoursoftravelintheconcoctionofEnglishroundels。Inthispath，hemustthushaveprecededMr。Lang，Mr。Dobson，Mr。Henley，andallcontemporaryroundeleers；butforgoodreasons，hewillbethelasttopublishtheresult。TheCigarettewalkedburthenedwithavolumeofMichelet。Andboththesebooks，itwillbeseen，playedapartinthesubsequentadventure。

TheArethusawasunwiselydressed。Heisnoprecisianinattire；

butbyallaccounts，hewasneversoill-inspiredasonthattramp；

havingsetforthindeed，uponamoment"snotice，fromthemostunfashionablespotinEurope，Barbizon。Onhisheadheworeasmoking-capofIndianwork，thegoldlacepitifullyfrayedandtarnished。Aflannelshirtofanagreeabledarkhue，whichthesatiricalcalledblack；alighttweedcoatmadebyagoodEnglishtailor；ready-madecheaplinentrousersandleatherngaiterscompletedhisarray。Inperson，heisexceptionallylean；andhisfaceisnot，likethoseofhappiermortals，acertificate。Foryearshecouldnotpassafrontierorvisitabankwithoutsuspicion；thepoliceeverywhere，butinhisnativecity，lookedaskanceuponhim；and(thoughIamsureitwillnotbecredited)heisactuallydeniedadmittancetothecasinoofMonteCarlo。Ifyouwillimaginehim，dressedasabove，stoopingunderhisknapsack，walkingnearlyfivemilesanhourwiththefoldsoftheready-madetrousersflutteringabouthisspindleshanks，andstilllookingeagerlyroundhimasifinterrorofpursuit-thefigure，whenrealised，isfarfromreassuring。WhenVillonjourneyed(perhapsbythesamepleasantvalley)tohisexileatRoussillon，Iwonderifhehadnotsomethingofthesameappearance。Somethingofthesamepreoccupationhehadbeyondadoubt，forhetoomusthavetinkeredversesashewalked，withmoresuccessthanhissuccessor。

Andifhehadanythinglikethesameinspiringweather，thesamenightsofuproar，meninarmourrollingandresoundingdownthestairsofheaven，therainhissingonthevillagestreets，thewildbull"s-eyeofthestormflashingallnightlongintothebareinn-

chamber-thesamesweetreturnofday，thesameunfathomableblueofnoon，thesamehigh-coloured，halcyoneves-andaboveall，ifhehadanythinglikeasgoodacomrade，anythinglikeaskeenarelishforwhathesaw，andwhatheate，andtheriversthathebathedin，andtherubbishthathewrote，Iwouldexchangeestatesto-daywiththepoorexile，andcountmyselfagainer。

Buttherewasanotherpointofsimilaritybetweenthetwojourneys，forwhichtheArethusawastopaydear:bothweregoneuponindaysofincompletesecurity。ItwasnotlongaftertheFranco-

Prussianwar。Swiftlyasmenforget，thatcountry-sidewasstillalivewithtalesofuhlans，andoutlyingsentries，andhairbreadth"scapesfromtheignominiouscord，andpleasantmomentaryfriendshipsbetweeninvaderandinvaded。Ayear，atthemosttwoyearslater，youmighthavetrampedallthatcountryoverandnotheardoneanecdote。Andayearortwolater，youwould-ifyouwerearatherill-lookingyoungmaninnondescriptarray-havegoneyourroundsingreatersafety；foralongwithmoreinterestingmatter，thePrussianspywouldhavesomewhatfadedfrommen"simaginations。

Forallthat，ourvoyagerhadgotbeyondChateauRenardbeforehewasconsciousofarousingwonder。OntheroadbetweenthatplaceandChatillon-sur-Loing，however，heencounteredaruralpostman；

theyfelltogetherintalk，andspokeofavarietyofsubjects；butthroughoneandall，thepostmanwasstillvisiblypreoccupied，andhiseyeswerefaithfultotheArethusa"sknapsack。Atlast，withmysteriousroguishness，heinquiredwhatitcontained，andonbeinganswered，shookhisheadwithkindlyincredulity。"NON，"saidhe，"NON，VOUSAVEZDESPORTRAITS。"Andthenwithalanguishingappeal，"VOYONS，showmetheportraits!"ItwassomelittlewhilebeforetheArethusa，withashoutoflaughter，recognisedhisdrift。Byportraitshemeantindecentphotographs；andintheArethusa，anaustereandrisingauthor，hethoughttohaveidentifiedapornographiccolporteur。WhencountryfolkinFrancehavemadeuptheirmindsastoaperson"scalling，argumentisfruitless。Alongalltherestoftheway，thepostmanpipedandflutedmeltinglytogetasightofthecollection；nowhewouldupbraid，nowhewouldreason-"VOYONS，Iwilltellnobody"；thenhetriedcorruption，andinsistedonpayingforaglassofwine；

and，atlastwhentheirwaysseparated-"NON，"saidhe，"CEN"EST

PASBIENDEVOTREPART。ONON，CEN"ESTPASBIEN。"Andshakinghisheadwithquiteasentimentalsenseofinjury，hedepartedunrefreshed。

OncertainlittledifficultiesencounteredbytheArethusaatChatillon-sur-Loing，Ihavenotspacetodwell；anotherChatillon，ofgrisliermemory，loomstoonearathand。Butthenextday，inacertainhamletcalledLaJussiere，hestoppedtodrinkaglassofsyrupinaverypoor，baredrinkingshop。Thehostess，acomelywoman，sucklingachild，examinedthetravellerwithkindlyandpityingeyes。"Youarenotofthisdepartment？"sheasked。TheArethusatoldherhewasEnglish。"Ah!"shesaid，surprised。"WehavenoEnglish。WehavemanyItalians，however，andtheydoverywell；theydonotcomplainofthepeopleofhereabouts。AnEnglishmanmaydoverywellalso；itwillbesomethingnew。"Herewasadarksaying，overwhichtheArethusaponderedashedrankhisgrenadine；butwhenheroseandaskedwhatwastopay，thelightcameuponhiminaflash。"O，POURVOUS，"repliedthelandlady，"ahalfpenny!"POURVOUS？Byheaven，shetookhimforabeggar!

Hepaidhishalfpenny，feelingthatitwereungracioustocorrecther。Butwhenhewasforthagainupontheroad，hebecamevexedinspirit。Theconscienceisnogentleman，heisarabbinicalfellow；

andhisconsciencetoldhimhehadstolenthesyrup。

ThatnightthetravellerssleptinGien；thenextdaytheypassedtheriverandsetforth(severally，astheircustomwas)onashortstagethroughthegreenplainupontheBerryside，toChatillon-

sur-Loire。Itwasthefirstdayoftheshooting；andtheairrangwiththereportoffirearmsandtheadmiringcriesofsportsmen。

Overheadthebirdswereinconsternation，wheelinginclouds，settlingandre-arising。Andyetwithallthisbustleoneitherhand，theroaditselflaysolitary。TheArethusasmokedapipebesideamilestone，andIrememberhelaiddownveryexactlyallhewastodoatChatillon:howhewastoenjoyacoldplunge，tochangehisshirt，andtoawaittheCigarette"sarrival，insublimeinaction，bythemarginoftheLoire。Firedbytheseideas，hepushedthemorerapidlyforward，andcame，earlyintheafternoonandinabreathingheat，totheentering-inofthatill-fatedtown。

ChildeRolandtothedarktowercame。

Apolitegendarmethrewhisshadowonthepath。

"MONSIEURESTVOYAGEUR？"heasked。

AndtheArethusa，stronginhisinnocence，forgetfulofhisvileattire，replied-Ihadalmostsaidwithgaiety:"Soitwouldappear。"

"Hispapersareinorder？"saidthegendarme。AndwhentheArethusa，withaslightchangeofvoice，admittedhehadnone，hewasinformed(politelyenough)thathemustappearbeforetheCommissary。

TheCommissarysatatatableinhisbedroom，strippedtotheshirtandtrousers，butstillcopiouslyperspiring；andwhenheturnedupontheprisoneralargemeaninglesscountenance，thatwas(likeBardolph"s)"allwhelksandbubuckles，"thedullestmighthavebeenpreparedforgrief。Herewasastupidman，sleepywiththeheatandfretfulattheinterruption，whomneitherappealnorargumentcouldreach。

THECOMMISSARY。Youhavenopapers？

THEARETHUSA。Nothere。

THECOMMISSARY。Why？

THEARETHUSA。Ihaveleftthembehindinmyvalise。

THECOMMISSARY。Youknow，however，thatitisforbiddentocirculatewithoutpapers？

THEARETHUSA。Pardonme:Iamconvincedofthecontrary。IamhereonmyrightsasanEnglishsubjectbyinternationaltreaty。

THECOMMISSARY(WITHSCORN)。YoucallyourselfanEnglishman？

THEARETHUSA。Ido。

THECOMMISSARY。Humph-Whatisyourtrade？

THEARETHUSA。IamaScotchadvocate。

THECOMMISSARY(WITHSINGULARANNOYANCE)。AScotchadvocate!Doyouthenpretendtosupportyourselfbythatinthisdepartment？

TheArethusamodestlydisclaimedthepretension。TheCommissaryhadscoredapoint。

THECOMMISSARY。Why，then，doyoutravel？

THEARETHUSA。Itravelforpleasure。

THECOMMISSARY(POINTINGTOTHEKNAPSACK，ANDWITHSUBLIME

INCREDULITY)。AVECCA？VOYEZ-VOUS，JESUISUNHOMMEINTELLIGENT!

(Withthat？Lookhere，Iamapersonofintelligence!)

Theculpritremainingsilentunderthishomethrust，theCommissaryrelishedhistriumphforawhile，andthendemanded(likethepostman，butwithwhatdifferentexpectations!)toseethecontentsoftheknapsack。AndheretheArethusa，notyetsufficientlyawaketohisposition，fellintoagravemistake。TherewaslittleornofurnitureintheroomexcepttheCommissary"schairandtable；andtofacilitatematters，theArethusa(withalltheinnocenceonearth)leanttheknapsackonacornerofthebed。TheCommissaryfairlyboundedfromhisseat；hisfaceandneckflushedpastpurple，almostintoblue；andhescreamedtolaythedesecratingobjectonthefloor。

Theknapsackprovedtocontainachangeofshirts，ofshoes，ofsocks，andoflinentrousers，asmalldressing-case，apieceofsoapinoneoftheshoes，twovolumesoftheCOLLECTIONJANNET

letteredPOESIESDECHARLESD"ORLEANS，amap，andaversionbookcontainingdiversnotesinproseandtheremarkableEnglishroundelsofthevoyager，stilltothisdayunpublished:theCommissaryofChatillonistheonlylivingmanwhohasclappedaneyeontheseartistictrifles。Heturnedtheassortmentoverwithacontumeliousfinger；itwasplainfromhisdaintinessthatheregardedtheArethusaandallhisbelongingsastheverytempleofinfection。Stilltherewasnothingsuspiciousaboutthemap，nothingreallycriminalexcepttheroundels；asforCharlesofOrleans，totheignorantmindoftheprisoner，heseemedasgoodasacertificate；anditwassupposedthefarcewasnearlyover。

Theinquisitorresumedhisseat。

THECOMMISSARY(AFTERAPAUSE)。EHBIEN，JEVAISVOUSDIRECEQUE

VOUSETES。VOUSETESALLEMANDETVOUSVENEZCHANTERALAFOIRE。

(Well，then，Iwilltellyouwhatyouare。YouareaGermanandhavecometosingatthefair。)

THEARETHUSA。Wouldyouliketohearmesing？IbelieveIcouldconvinceyouofthecontrary。

THECOMMISSARY。PASDEPLAISANTERIE，MONSIEUR!

THEARETHUSA。Well，sir，obligemeatleastbylookingatthisbook。Here，Iopenitwithmyeyesshut。Readoneofthesesongs-readthisone-andtellme，youwhoareamanofintelligence，ifitwouldbepossibletosingitatafair？